Donald Trump’s announcement that he is withdrawing all US military personnel from Syria may fulfil one of his 2016 election pledges to the American people. But it is also a — domestically driven — betrayal of key American allies, not least the Kurds. Latest clear indicator of the overall shape of US foreign policy for as long as Mr Trump remains in the Oval Office.

Saudi Arabia may or may not continue to bend to President Donald Trump’s wish to see the oil price go lower still. But there are good reasons to suppose that, whatever Opec decides on 6 December, the trend for the next few weeks at least may be upwards.